Theory of Colours

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Translated by Charles Lock Eastlake (1793 - 1865)

Newton's observations on the optical spectrum were widely accepted but Goethe noticed the difference between the scientific explanation and the phenomena as experienced by the human eye. He did not try to explain this, but rather collected and presented data, conducting experiments on the interplay of light and dark. His work was rejected as 'unscientific' by physicists but his color wheel is still used by artists today. - Summary by Lynne Thompson

Genre(s): Art, Design & Architecture, Astronomy, Physics & Mechanics

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Translator's Preface and Preface to the First Edition Lynne T
00:29:04
Play 02 Introduction Nathan Rosquist
00:16:11
Play 03 Part I - Physiological Colours Section 1 - Effects of Light and Dark on the Eye Dylan Campbell
00:05:12
Play 04 Section II - Effects of Black and White Objects on the Eye Nathan Rosquist
00:13:32
Play 05 Section III - Grey Surfaces and Objects; Section IV - Dazzling Colourless Objects Deborah Balm
00:09:19
Play 06 Section V - Coloured Objects Deborah Balm
00:13:39
Play 07 Section VI - Coloured Shadows Deborah Balm
00:12:43
Play 08 Section VII - Faint Lights; Section VIII - Subjective Halos Kieren Metts
00:08:55
Play 09 Pathological Colours - Appendix Kieren Metts
00:14:15
Play 10 Part 2 - Physical Colours - Section IX - Diotropical Colours playonwords
00:06:19
Play 11 Section X - Diotropical Colours of the First Class playonwords
00:18:55
Play 12 Section XI - Diotropical Colours of the Second Class - Refraction Gillian Hendrie
00:08:10
Play 13 Subjective Experiments - Section XII - Refraction Without the Appearance of Colour; Section XIII - Conditions of the Appearance of Colour Gillian Hendrie
00:07:13
Play 14 Section XIV - Conditions Under Which the Appearance of Colour Increases Lynne T
00:05:23
Play 15 Section XV - Explanation of the Foregoing Phenomena Michelle Tan
00:12:01
Play 16 Section XVI - Decrease of the Appearance of Colour; Section XVII - Grey Objects Displaced by Refraction Lynne T
00:06:53
Play 17 Section XVIII - Coloured Objects Displaced by Refraction Gillian Hendrie
00:19:50
Play 18 Section XIX - Achromatism and Hyperchromatism; Section XX - Advantages of Subjective Experiments. - Transition to the Objective DrPGould
00:11:02
Play 19 Objective Experiments - Section XXI - Refraction Without the Appearance of Colour; Section XXII - Conditions of the Appearance of Colour DrPGould
00:09:02
Play 20 Section XXIII - Conditions of the Increase of Colour; Section XXIV - Explanation of the Foregoing Phenomena DrPGould
00:08:27
Play 21 Section XXV - Decrease of the Appearance of Colour; Section XXVI - Grey Objects ; Section XXVII - Coloured Objects; Section XXVIII - Achromatism and Hyperchromatism Katarina Petric
00:11:14
Play 22 Section XXIX - Combination of Subjective and Objective Experiments; Section XXX - Transition Simona Rusu
00:08:24
Play 23 Section XXXI - Catatropical Colours Simona Rusu
00:11:11
Play 24 Section XXXII - Paroptical Colours Simona Rusu
00:17:22
Play 25 Section XXXIII - Epoptical Colours Simona Rusu
00:29:59
Play 26 Part III - Chemical Colours - Section XXXIV - Chemical Contrast jcrosbie
00:03:25
Play 27 Section XXXV - White; Section XXXVI - Black; Section XXXVII - First Excitation of Colour jcrosbie
00:10:23
Play 28 Section XXXVIII - Augmentation of Colour; Section XXXIX - Culmination; Section XL - Fluctuation; Section XLI - Passage Through the Whole Scale ToddHW
00:09:25
Play 29 Section XLII - Inversion; Section XLIII - Fixation; Section XLIV - Intermixture, Real; Section XLV - Intermixture, Apparent ToddHW
00:10:59
Play 30 Section XLVI - Communication, Actual; Section XLVII - Communication, Apparent ToddHW
00:08:26
Play 31 Section XLVIII - Extraction; Section XLIX - Nomenclature Suzie
00:12:41
Play 32 Section L - Minerals; Section LI - Plants Chris Gray
00:09:45
Play 33 Section LII - Worms, Insects, Fishes; Section LIII - Birds Gillian Hendrie
00:12:31
Play 34 Section LIV - Mammalia and Human Beings jenno
00:15:32
Play 35 Section LV - Physical and Chemical Effects of the Transmission of Light Through Coloured Mediums; Section LVI - Chemical Effect in Dioptrical Achromatism; Chris Gray
00:07:59
Play 36 Part IV - General Characteristics brianna
00:18:10
Play 37 Part V - Relation to Other Pursuits Lynne T
00:30:04
Play 38 Part VI - Effect of Colour With Reference to Moral Associations; Yellow; Red-Yellow; Yellow-Red; Blue; Red-Blue; Red; Green Availle
00:18:15
Play 39 Completeness and Harmony; Yellow and Blue; Yellow and Red; Blue and Red; Yellow-Red and Blue-Red; Combinations Non-Characteristic; Relations of the Combinations to Light and Dark; Considerations Derived from the Evidence of Experience and History Availle
00:19:20
Play 40 Aesthetic Influence; Chiaro-Scuro; Tendency to Colour; Keeping; Colour in General Nature; Characteristic Colouring Availle
00:14:47
Play 41 Harmonious Colouring; Genuine Tone; False Tone; Weak Colouring; The Motley; Dread of Theory; Ultimate Aim; Grounds; Pigments Availle
00:13:10
Play 42 Allegorical, Symbolic, Mystical Application of Color; Concluding Observations Availle
00:08:56